@@Hodoss They already messed up the meaning behind that blade. It was a gift from her motorball trainer, Ed. It has deep emotional meaning for Alita. Removing him from the plot makes the blade just another weapon.
I love how they tried to make her sword more realistic by not making it an oversized butterfly knife and what they got was an actually inferior design both in aestetics and usefullness.
Yet there's a giant rocket hammer in the movie so whats the point? Also every enemy Alita fights is 5 times bigger than her or more, so why not have the giant knife?
Shad i believe that he meant that the sword can cut through cybernetics like butter, because cyborgs while tougher than humans arent literal steel pillars they have many small parts easily broken individualy.
Zapan also simply said that it cuts through armor like butter. Just the armor. Ergo, the hard metal plates on the outside of the cyborgs. That's still very impressive, but at least kind of plausible.
Plus I just took it as him bragging and not everything he said should be taken as 100% truth, as he probably doesn't know as much about the sword himself.
Thats actually a very good point, considering that the fragile cybernetics are likely also all intricate pistons, tubes and soddered together circuit boards, but in the movie they specifically state cyborgs AND metal plates, and we do see in the movie Alita cut through thick metal armour like on the Centurian mechs with just as much ease. The ironic thing is that if the blade was ACTUAL Damascus Steel, it would bend and fit into cuts and could be feasibly wedged all the way down an incision, just like they proclaim in the movie, provided there was enough force behind it, and also by that time she is using the beserker body and infused the blade with a sheathe of plasma to flash-heat the target before contact is made.
@@luukvandepasch7923 Umm, isn't the whole point of armour to be the toughest part of anything. It's the hardest part and on the outside in order to protect the squishier inside. So anything that can cut through the armour, could also easily cut through the rest, since that part is less hard.
Minor spoilers for the movie. I imagine Shad at the Theatre. *sees the evil dude* Shad: "His sword looks dumb, fitting for a guy like him" *Alita picks up the sword* Shad: "Why would you pick that up? It's dumb!" *Alita does her sword party trick* Shad: "Okey, I forgive you"
Excelon The 4th Avalon Heirs I’m talking about the part where he mentions spoiler. I get that the whole damn thing is a joke. But you can’t laugh at a text on a screen that is out of context.
Joke or not, I agree with the concept. I’d rather put “spoiler alert” even if there are no spoilers, than to have some snowflake or troll harass me about non existent spoilers 😂
The way a friend explained it to my nephew when he saw (I forget where) a guy cuts through a pillar in a building... she says. "Imagine that pillar was two pieces stacked on top of eachother like building blocks. If I put something between the two, like a strap or a sword... could you pull it out? No. It has the whole weight of the building pushing those two pillars together. So even if the sword was sharp enough, you'd have to be strong enough to lift the entire building a little bit, the width of the sword in order to cut through. Because once you cut into it, you still have to get all the way through!" I never thought of it that way, but it perfectly explained the problem with magically sharp fictional weapons.
Have you ever heard of a tree? How do you cut through it? At an angle. All of these criticisms and the criticisms of Shad are moot when you remember that.
@@jonjo2598 Except you dont fall trees in a Single Swing. It's called "chopping wood" because youre repeatedly chopping at the damn thing, then pulling the axe out and jamming it back in that bitch!
@@jonjo2598 you still cut out chunks when using a saw or chainsaw as binding is a major issue for both of those tools. especially as if you cut into a tree from only one side gravity means it falls from where the cut started thus binding harder on the back of the too the further you go in.
From a point of view of physics, tha fact that the sword has a tickness, so it should always get stuck, is not entirely true: the problem is dependent on the sheer pressure that the arm wielding it can impart to the entire section (the cutting edge acts just as a pressure multiplier) of the sword's blade. We are talking here of the Berserker, a military nanotech cyborg that is able to give tons of brute strenght to the entire blade: so, well, a sword really should "cut" stones and steel even if the sword itself has a dull edge! The material under enough pressure melts from heat, and slips away from the blade, and the melted material reduce also the attrition on the sides of the blade itself... if the sword is hard and resilient enough to withstand the stress. The plasma powerup that Alita gives to the sword is pretty plausible (not realistic maybe, but plausible) in enhancing the melting effect, giving her the upper hand against armored tanks. I completely agree with you with the weird handle: not so functional at all...
Thing is, that blade is super sharp no matter who wields it in the movie pretty much. If it was only people as strong Alita or those who could use that channeling effect then yeah, I'd agree with your explanation
We only see cyborgs use it. And it was designed for cyborgs. Maybe it means that, if an enhanced human uses it, then it can cut through steel (more or less) like butter.
As one who has worked in the machinists industry, you're correct about the amount of pressure being applied to the cutting edge being a force multiplier. With massive amounts of hydraulic power, hard, heavy steels are cleanly cut by smaller blades daily. That said, all steels are not alike and when they are, there's many variations due to alloy components, processing and tempering. New technology continues to bring improvements in all phases.
The manga makes a metaphorical point on Damascus Steel, when Alita/Gally vows to become a living weapon made of the purest steel, her mentor teaches her that the purest steel breaks like glass, and the strength of steel comes from its impurities, taking the example of damascus steel that comes from scraps of various metals (like the one you find in the dump heap they live in), that when forged together produce a metal that is both resilient and flexible.
I thought that the sword's name signalled to the audience that the URM sword was awesome, but the techniques to make it were lost to time (like actual Damascus steel). I like your metaphor though, as it carries deeper meaning around the growing strength of Alita :)
Yeah, I've read the original 9 and 19 books from last order. They barely scratched the surface of the plot. I would have really liked to see the more heavy handed topics from the manga in the movie. Like the war of the kids against the adults, that already have chips instead of brains. Which focuses on the question of what makes us truly human and when does it stop to apply. Also the coming to she and losing a part of yourself could be an analogy of this plot thread.
@@theblackbaron4119 the movie focus is only over the original manga, i don't think they will ever consider to use some of the topic of the last order series.
@@serindas i might move mistaken, but the one vengeful kid building the giant monster/robot to wipe out the adults was the climax of the original series.
The original title of the manga is simply GUNNM, so I don't think it matters what any alternative titles spells it. (Heck, her name isn't even "Alita", her name was first Yoko (pre-amnesia) then changed to Garii! They just flat-out replaced it like with so many dumb translations.)
As a reader of the Mangas and other sci-fi material: the name Damascus blade comes from her two under arm blades being forged together into one, they're described as having serrated edges hard as diamonds that only high pressure water cutters or sonic cutters are able to hone it. It's supposed to be made from rare metals like lutetium, yttrium and scandium
Shad when you mentioned the special ability Alita can do with the sword when you think about it kinda reminded me of Iron Man's repulsar blasters. Hence when Dr Ito tells Alita that her heart could power all of Iron city for years kinda sounds like a mini ark reactor for Alita's heart.
in the Manga, Alita's berserker body had the ability to create and utilize plasma. This was shown briefly in the movie when she showed her finger creating the glowing blue plasma. They just didn't go into details in the movie as they did in the manga. Interestingly though, they did use aspects from the Last Order saga to give us some back story earlier in the movie than was shown in the manga.
@@DatDarkOne Oh yes I caught on to that. To me if they are making 2 or 3 sequels to Alita I would imagine they would find a particular place within the canon to do it because remember after Hugo died it went into a timeline montage as if months has gone by as it says in the Motorball Arena since this based on an entire manga series. So I would think they would fit as much as the canon into the movie but also leaving big timeline montage in between movies as a we for the audience to fit the full manga in the movie timeline.
Errrrm ( wobbling) yes!.....did that!.......most distracting!.....( Where is the bathroom ,?....and WHY is the room spiinning around???) Lol. Best regards.
:D I love how conflicted you are. Kudos to you man. I loved the movie as well. Seen it 5 times. Bought 8 tickets. If they don't make a sequel. Well... I can die a happy man knowing that I got to see a character I didn't knew I needed but received in its glory anyway.
@@Annor-TM Oh I see, you're a good person. Can't say the same for your friends though.. I mean, not willing to watch Alita ? What are you even doing with these people ! ;)
Lorewise the plasma thingy is exclusive to to berserker body. The sword itself in manga was described just as a masterwork blade made from an alloy of different metals found in scrapyard/iron city which made it very durable.
Since I couldn't find the script online, I went with Pat Cadigan's: "Alita: Battle Angel - Official Movie Novelization". The sword is introduced as follows: "Zapan whipped the sword through the air in a series of complex patterns
before holding the cutting edge up in front of Alita at eye level, so she could marvel at the full effect of its otherworldly iridescence. Despite everything, Hugo couldn’t help being impressed himself. The blade looked like a super- natural blend of diamonds and steel
“Honed to a monomolecular edge, it slices armour like butter,” Zapan said in a
melodramatic tone. “Forged before the Fall by the lost arts of Urm metallurgy-” So Zapan could use the sword to slice through armor, and he was a mere cyborg - without a berserker body. It displayed "its otherworldly iridescence" even in his hands.
@@JimTempleman "otherworldly iridescence" is not the same as being enveloped in plasma. Also, while zapan was a "mere cyborg" he was still much much stronger than a normal human, meaning he was capable of pushing the blade through materials with brute strength. Just like Alita did. The plasma shroud does not originate from the blade, it comes from alita's berserker body.
5 лет назад+651
How can Alita end her foe rightly, her sword doesn't even have a pommel? Utter rubbish!
I'm an American in the Dirty South who upvotes Shad's videos. I do so because Shad creates great videos and does his research. That he is also an Alita fan is just the icing. :D
To be honest the one in the manga is actually cooler. They made the Robocop mistake, remember the 80s iconic gun was awesome, do you remember the new one..... I don't.
Swordshape: Curve is the same as in some Cavalary-Sabre. The curve here helps to prevent the Blade to get stuck in your target if you pass by whilst attack very fast. So, perfect Alita-Style^^.
Every weeaboo knows she should use a katana, as katanas: -cut tanks, buildings -slice planets -rip space-time continuum -create black holes, magnetars and big bangs with just a swing of the blade
Well, y'know the current Manga version of the Damascus Blade is technically black hole powered... So I suppose it could very much be Weeaboo Certified!
Actually it's clunkiness is clearly shown in both manga and movie. And I loved that, especially the scene where it got stuck after a swing. While it IS an instrument to give human a hand in fighting cyborgs, it's unwieldy to the point where guy completely relied on surprise attack tactic.
Shad: This sword is unrealistic!! Me: So you missed the rocket powered warhammer which would weigh about 60kg being swung by a regular fleshy human with no enhancements...? Priorities much
@@shykorustotora Makes sense for a human fighting really tough strong opponents. Get an extremely powerful yet clumsy weapon to kill in one hit when you take them by surprise. The fight with it went about as well as you could expect. The dude knew he was screwed when he realized he would have to one on one combat with it and could barely use it in actual combat.
Quick doubt. Only with reference to the movie. She was able to channel plasma energy due to the berserker suit If the sword is at a temperature anywhere near the plasma, it can surely melt steel and of course cut through it like butter
Nice video, but I would like to nitpick a bit (sorry Shad). While I agree that the movie sword isn't a really good design, I think that you underestimated a few important points about it. First of all the sword was designed to be used by cyborgs, not normal humans, which means that the (admitedly awkward) design of the handle might be due to the differences between a human hand and a cybernetic hand, especially considering that a berserker body is nanotech based. The second -- and probably more important thing -- is about the length. During the old war berserkers were equipped with firearms alongside their blades, which means that this particular weapon wasn't meant as the primary mean of attack. Hence it filled a role closer to a combat knife, meaning that a longer and more cumbersome blade would have been much more problematic. Also the berserkers were trained to fight hand to hand in zero gravity condition, where a long blade would be actually not that efficient. Regarding the comic incarnation of the damscus blade, it was a completely different beast.
Wouldn't you want your backup weapon to be as reliable as cyborgly possible? They are still nearly ergonomically identical to humans when in come to hand geometry. If your primary weapon fails you wouldn't want to pick up something that was specifically designed to be awkward to your physical form, even if you do have gargantuan strength.
One important thing to think about shad, your objection to Super Sharp cutting only works if the steel is under compression. If the steel is under tension then cutting it will actually spread the steel apart slightly and so full cutting would be possible
It would also depend on the tensile strength compared to the amount of elongation for the steel under tension. if the cut doesn't spread enough then the blade would still get wedged. If the steel were being flexed then the cut would be spreading and widening at the same time, giving less material for the bevel to slide through. Its all a bunch of physics stuff that movie writers apparently don't have time for or don't understand.
The sword is enhanced by the plasma from her berserker body so it burns through anything and doesn't rely solely on the edge. IE: The width of the blade won't get wedged because the sides cut as well as the edge.
the reason alita does not use a shield and use reverse holding is that her marsial art revolve around: 1-fighting in tight space 2-getting inside the opponent guard 3-zero gravity combat or at least it was the case in the manga.
alita generates a super hot (10,000 degree+ ) plasma edge on the blade so in addition to being a molecule thick at the edge. add in her insane strength and she will be slicing most thin things in half. she only slashes into the body of spider tanks so she isnt cutting 10 foot thick things in half. she does cut barrels and other thin-ish things (the cutter fingers) in half but given her strength that seems reasonable.
15,000 degrees to be exact (according to Zariki's original body) in the manga - represented by the blue flame ejected from her fingers into the Damascus Blade (something Zapan couldn't do). So even with minimum effort, it should be able to slice alloy as if they were air or water
@@danieldorn2927 Why? What if some one make a gun? Criminals don't care about law. In manga there was a revolutionary military rouge army which robe supplies for Zalem and even built a cannon to shoot at Zalem.
@@S1lverarrow There are different kinds of armors, lightweight and agility is preferable against fast moving targets such as cyborgs. Do you know how difficult it is to construct an efficient cannon that is armor piercing? One would need forgotten technology, just like the sword to not only build the weapon, but also its ammunition
I am not a fan of the blade redesign, In the original it looks like a scaled up combat knife and that simplicity makes it look so cool. Here its just eh
Regarding your video on dnd armor a few days back you mentioned that there were no segmented plate armor historically. But in lindeybeige's videos he has shown an Indian Mughal plated mail armor with segmented plates joined with chain mail. I have seen something similar here in a museum too in India. I may have interpreted your words incorrectly so I apologise if that's the case. But if not I would like you to know about it's existence. Great videos , love them😀😀😀
There are always exceptions to the rule, as shad has said many times. Overall segmented armor was worse than full plate and as such was not as prominent.
@@sirkana well it's just a mail armor with some plates at important places. Never heard of any full body plate armor being used in the subcontinent so maybe it's the best they had.
0:55 In regard to its name, because Damascus steel was seen as the greatest type of steel in history by the people who made it, making insanely bold claims about it it never dulled, it never broke, etc. to the extent that they even claimed that the metal was supernatural or magical. I would guess Akita’s sword was called the Damascus sword not because of its properties, but because of its reputation, as if claiming that it’s superior to any other weapon. Which makes sense given the person she took it from.
Would be cool for you to do your own interpretation of Alita's sword, keeping the thematic feel but improving the functional design. Maybe incorporating elements from the Manga design.
I haven't watched yet, a little busy atm but have you considered shes strong enough to cut someone in half swinging 1/4" round stock like butter? It really doesn't matter what she yields compared to a human because she is not. You probably couldn't even see her swing if the tech was real. New robots are reaching ridiculous working speeds. I'm lucky enough to work with one in the aerospace field.
This. You have an Android specifically designed for fighting and has an advanced metal blade capable of cutting at the molecular level without dulling (just like Adamantium).
Ido's rocket hammer? Sure! But really, this examination of both the Damascus Sword an the Manga's "Butterfly Sword", makes me want to see him examine the weapons used in RWBY .... ^_^
In the manga, the much longer handle of Alita's switch-blade demonstrates its usefulness in a certain fight as she holds to the handle as far down as possible and gives the blade a really long swing, apparently pushing the blade's furthest-most edge to supersonic speed.
To be fair, we might still get that butterfly spear design in the movie, because she doesn't really have a sword in the comic as she does in the film. In the manga she gets the damascus blade literally as a blade alone to use in her motorball armor. Only much later in the series it gets turned into that spear when she's not playing motorball anymore.
I found your channel recently, and I'm quite enjoying it! Also, I'll be seeing Alita a 2nd time in theaters (never paid more than once in theaters tor for a movie before)! Loved it!
@@TAPriceCTR Aye, March 8th is Alita Day! Several of us have been campaigning to make that catch on. I think a dramatic spike in Alita ticket sales on the same day as Captain Marvel releases will be a statement that can't be ignored. We've always loved badass female leads, but ones that promote misandry/sexism/racism identity politics have no place in our movies.
@Richard Haegeler mmmmm thsts from the 2008 wh Codex. Alita Is way older than that...besides..Rocket hammers have been all over the place, like in the fallaout series.
Having picked up and handled a $4,000 katana, I can tell you first hand that the gentle curve helps with edge alignment. As soon as I drew it, the sword sang it's edge alignment like a chorus of angels. It was a remarkable experience and I very highly recommend anyone who doubts the edge alignment help of a slightly curved blade picks up a high quality one.
Shad: "She needs a longer sword or a shield so she can get closer" Alita: *Puts her fist through the face of a dude that just ripped off the entire lower half of her body and one of her arms* Dude, you're applying human logic to a super soldier cyborg!!!
i agree...that why it call Sci-fi...not sci-non-fi, Sci-fi do not need to make sense in the real world, only to make enough sense to follow the story, like in back to the future. Guy: How do the delorean go through time? BTTF Movies: oh that easy with the use of the flux capacitor, and a little bit of plutonium. Guy: Oh ok, sound cool. Seem legit.
Sci-Fi does not excuse everything. Unless they specifically state that physics work differently in that Universe, a longer sword still improves reach, tip speed, leverage and a number of other properties that are useful in combat. While it is true that Alita is so OP that she can compensate for those drawbacks, there's nothing wrong in pointing out that those drawbacks are there.
The balance of the blade is not really necessary to move it around really quickly and acurately, she is SEVERAL times stronger than a human. You can apply any Super-Strength attributes to her. Also, the difference between Movie Sword and Manga Sword: - Manga Sword: It was crafted in the Scrapyard by a Blacksmith that knew very advanced smithing and metallurgy techniques. - Movie Sword: Was crafted by the URM Technocracy via molecular assembly, just like Alita's Berserker body.
Mr Shad, please keep in mind that the arguments about the properly made handle are irrelevant. This sword was built to be used by a cyborg, and was in fact designed to interface with the spoiler system. Thus the arguments about edge alignment and handle bulk should be dismissed. The handle could be specifically suited for the cyborg hand holding and interfacing with it, and may need additional bulk for the extra features. Edge alignment would not be an issue, and if the operating system was properly calibrated, point control might not be either. Your arguments would apply to the previous owner, but not Alita.
Ergonomically the cyborgs are nearly identical to humans so if you wanted to make a good sword for a cyborg the same principles would apply. Making it more awkward to wield would just increase the chances of losing it during a fight. Why would you prosperously shoot yourself in the foot? Better to make it so you just don't drop it in the first place.
@@Tauntaun707 We know that the sword interfaces with the spoiler system. So it has some form of mechanical link up to the hand. Which means that despite the overall human shape of the hands, there are interface ports and potentially other aspects of their configuration that, while small, would likely ensure that the blade stays perfectly aligned.
@@Tauntaun707 You may be on to something. The only reason Zapan had the sword was because he found it. Which means some martian soldier dropped it long ago.
Nathan's argument of "cyborgs are like humans" is flawed, because he's not looking close enough. You see: A human 'feels' the alignment of a blade by for example making the handle oval or rectangular. If i understand correctly, the cyborg in this case feels the alignment via an interface-mechanism - in which case the shape of the handle is indeed completely irrelevant, so long as it fits the cyborg's hand. A similiar mechanism was shown in the cyberpunk 2077 gameplay footage last year, where the protagonist buys a cybernetic implant for her right hand, to interface with handguns (it looks like implanted polymer-plates with metallic contact-points). On first thought, this might seem completely superflous: What's the point, when you already have a hand to grab a handgun properly? And ammo-counts could simply transmitted via wifi, so why a cybernetic grip? The answer is alignment: With such an interface, shooting singlehanded or from the hip becomes feasible, since you can i.e. render a crosshair onto the user's hud - obsoleting the need for ironsight aiming.
This video is why I subscribed to your channel. I really appreciate your expertise on the medieval technical aspects that often get shoehorned into movies without context. For what my 2 cents (pence?? shillings??? denar???!) might be worth, I would love to see more videos like this.
@@bar-1studios There are _plenty_ of exquisitly beautiful historical swords. Anything from Albion should definitely impress the regular viewer, but even if you'd rather go for a pure fantasy design, you could make it viable and functional rather than stupid, cumbersome and fragile.
@@bar-1studios In Alitas case they did go the other way. Is way more dull and boring looking then the original ones. Her wrist blades were super cool but also simple looking. And the butter-knife one was as cool but in bigger. I'm a little upset they changed the rules from motorball for whatever reasons just to justify the new sword . What were the rules? The most important are 1. No jet engines. 2. No lose parts. Weapons have to be fixated on the body.
Nah mate, they'd probably be very boring overall, even more so in a world where swords have to compete with guns and cannons. For average Joe and oversized sword that lights on fire is more interested than one that happens to be accurately crafted for the character.
@@itsjuank Well, the sword can still be endowed with magical superpowers and shoot laserbeams and lightningbolts on fire yet look like you could actually grip it comfortably.
I originally assumed etches on the Damascus Blade allows everyone (especially others) to clearly see whether (or how far) the blade is charged by the electro-plasma an U.R.M. Berserker Body User is currently channeling through it. In the original manga, the beserker body inhales air, heats it to a high temperature using an electrical arc discharge. Then the resulting plasma jet may go up to more than 15,000 degree (celsius) in temperature. Because the Damascus Blade was U.R.M technology, it could extend the plasma jet along the entire blade, probably using the same method they do so in Star Trek ships using Electro-Plasma Conduits which applies EM fields (to confine the electro-plasma itself) - something the Beserker Body can control (ala Magneto style) in the manga. I also naturally assumed it was partially manufactured using carbon-nanotubes (CNT), so the thickness may be irrelevant as (as far as I know) CNTs are still the strongest & stiffest materials discovered (so far). Technically CNT has a specific strength of up to 48,000 kN·m·kg−1. For comparison reason, high-carbon steel, has a specific strength of of a mere 154 kN·m·kg−1. The Butterfly Folding Blade was only given to her by the G.I.B. (Ground Inspection Bureau) much more later (most probably in the 3rd Film of this Trilogy) - but I suspect it's a thousand times inferior, especially if no CNT was involve in it's construction, nor has any ability to intricately channel the electro-plasma generated by a Berserker Body User (which is alright since the GIB didn't provide her with one, assuming the film adaptation remains faithful to the manga).
Drink a shot at every "okay". Have fun :-) But seriously: i really love your videos. Really educational and (in 99% of the time) you know what you are talking about; you know your stuff. Glad i subscribed.
Mono-filament swords are the concept of an edge one molecule thick in a suspension field, preventing cutting damage. So the point of the rest of the blade is to provide mass for momentum behind the cutting edge. The "notches" are there for aesthetic reasons of course, but if you want to get into the "why" in-world, it is the two points of contact for the mono-filament suspension field. The curve is for strength of material, not martial, as this is a blade designed to cut through tanks, not people. As for the "special" powers used, they prevent blade sides from sticking as it cuts and evaporates matter around it. I wonder if the Alita of manga needs Alita to make it special (super tech sharp, more mass for super strength). The problem with the manga sword is the very thing you like about it: the length of the blade without reinforcement. The manga blade would snap off at the tang the first time you hit a sentinel with it.
The length of the blade might not be a problem considering she can turn it into a vibro-blade using one of her techniques (similar to that plasma trick in the movie).
I suppose the fact that the sword was meant to be used by ultra strong cyborgs from Mars, justifies the fact that it is super sharp and can cut through metals. Alita can just power the blade through the material being cut using her cyborg strength, which is more than strong enough to kick out punch through metals anyway. It would only get stuck in materials if the person cutting with it is not strong enough to push it through or get it out. It's odd that shad didn't consider this fact. Sure, the blade might be a bad design for regular people to use, but it wasn't designed for regular people.
The design of the handle and those bits on the lower part of the blade suggests that it has a mechanical function that moves. I think it might be a gun-sword. Perhaps they are planning in the 2nd movie to reveal that. What do you think Shad?
So if you had some magic mcguffin metal that could hold it's shape no matter what, would a needle design be best? Like it's basically a fencing blade but it's so thin and strong that the edge can cut through metal without warping.
Is that not a barehand technique (rather reminiscent of the old "quivering palm" monk attack)? Trying to control the harmonics as they spread up that wonky blade would be a real pain. I'd stick with plasma middle finger were it me.
Gotta disagree with the cutting part. Having worked in construction, we hammered steel nails into concrete. If a steel nail can push enough concrete out of the way to go in, a fantasy material like adamantium or molecularly honed metal, what ever that is, used by a fantasy body like a mutant or cyborg wont have an issue pushing steel apart to cut it.
@Sun Lun Who needs to grow up here? Even adults still have penises and vaginas, pretending they don't exist after you grow up certainly won't be useful. Making a sword look like a sex toy is a joke and should be pointed out as such in hopes that whoever created this designer piece of garbage won't do it again.
If a sword is a molecule thick, as it passes through the material, the wound will heal itself as the blade leaves. You're only breaking a single molecular bond, which happens all the time. It's essentially what is known as "cold welding".
I agree with the handle being funky at best.. but I can't stop thinking that maybe this sword's handle is meant to be attached to something else. Say a bigger handle, making it into a small Scythe... She would definetly benefit in both reach and versatility against bigger cyborgs. If that was the case, I would then understand the double edge and Pickaxe tip. 🤔😂 Cheers!~ P.S. Shad kept his word on releasing this vid about the sword. Delivered very swiftly too! 👍
She could use it as an attachment in place of one of her hands as well, similar to how she replaces her feet with the skate like attachments. The design of the handle might actually make sense in that regard.
@@Treisiess But that would make her unable to use a hand though. However, you can't drop something that's attached to you, so it's also a good idea. Kind of like a Japanese Kama for an arm! 😎
@@Altonahk I didn't see a way of holstering that sword on her. But passively attaching it to her forearm is a effective way of doing so. Not only that, but it remains a threat if it's still there. It does make it look like a wing.. which is what Alita means in Spanish. "Little Wing." Cool concept. 🙂
3:05 So no matter how advanced or sharp you say? So a blade that was oscillating at high speed it wouldn't cut through? I think that your scope of understanding is narrow, and some of these fantasy metals actually seem to vibrate at high frequency. Also, the light saber is a sword, and wouldn't have issue cutting through steel. Then there is pure force...and sharpness and force combined doesn't need your understanding.
Who can really tell what the nanotech can do ? The reconfiguration of the berserker body shows that some kind of nanobots are used, I would assume the same technology is used on the sword.
That's what came up in my mind, but he did state that he wouldn't gotten the special abilities of the beserker body & the special ability of the sword in. Due to spoilers
@@wva6809 yeah the "Berserker mode" of the body and its full functionality are HUGE spoiler material so either read the manga where its explained in detail or wait.
Hey Shad, Would you please make more hands on reviews in the future? I really like the hands on reviews combined with the sit down presentation. I think this would better illustrate the points you are making and give us (the audience) a better idea of the pros and cons associated with each weapon you are reviewing. I don’t know where you would get a replica of each weapon you are reviewing unless you make your own or buy one. I imagine that could be quite costly if you are buy them every time. Lastly do you know if there is any simulation software where you could test the castles, fortresses and other historical structures in your videos to see how they would perform in a real attack. I realize it would be limited to what the simulation software and computer are capable of doing, but still fun to see on screen. Thanks for the video and I enjoy your content.
A polearm sized butterfly knife!? Oh japan, i love you!
Its the most American weapon in the entire manga( except actual railgun punches but that's another thing entirely).
Giant butter knives have always been around. www.pinterest.jp/pin/546202261028785867/
Please cover the rocket Hammer Spike thing!
@@LuBaLu I wish I could post photos. There's an historical warhammer that has four wheel lock guns in the face. It's nuts.
@@barrybend7189 Actually it's not american at all - google "nagamaki" and imagine folding it ;)
Here's hoping that the reason for making an uncomfortable design is so that Alita has more reason to change the design in the (hopeful) sequel.
John-Joe McCorley
Actually, it may be specially designed so only a cyborg can wield it.
That butterfly sword looks too sweet to miss o it. Please do it in sequal
John-Joe McCorley let’s pray
I'm sure they will make the butterfly polesword, it's her iconic weapon.
But they could still mess it up trying to make it look fancy.
@@Hodoss They already messed up the meaning behind that blade. It was a gift from her motorball trainer, Ed. It has deep emotional meaning for Alita. Removing him from the plot makes the blade just another weapon.
I love how they tried to make her sword more realistic by not making it an oversized butterfly knife and what they got was an actually inferior design both in aestetics and usefullness.
I still prefer the oversized butterfly knife
The oversized butterfly blade was (and in this adaptation may be) given to her later by Zalem's G.I.B. (Ground Inspection Bureau)
Gay
Yet there's a giant rocket hammer in the movie so whats the point? Also every enemy Alita fights is 5 times bigger than her or more, so why not have the giant knife?
Ohhh no... the guy doesn't know any of the story outside the movie.... *facepalm* Another newbie bites the dusts
"It's nano-technology, your arguments are invalid. All of them".
"nanomachines son!"
@@Bzlawg lol u missed the sarcasm didnt u
Blake Stu r/wooooooooooosh
@@jimslater8685 nanomashits
Micah Lau congratulations you get the joke.
Shad i believe that he meant that the sword can cut through cybernetics like butter, because cyborgs while tougher than humans arent literal steel pillars they have many small parts easily broken individualy.
Zapan also simply said that it cuts through armor like butter. Just the armor. Ergo, the hard metal plates on the outside of the cyborgs. That's still very impressive, but at least kind of plausible.
Plus I just took it as him bragging and not everything he said should be taken as 100% truth, as he probably doesn't know as much about the sword himself.
All you need is speed (in a coordinated move of course ;-P)
Thats actually a very good point, considering that the fragile cybernetics are likely also all intricate pistons, tubes and soddered together circuit boards, but in the movie they specifically state cyborgs AND metal plates, and we do see in the movie Alita cut through thick metal armour like on the Centurian mechs with just as much ease. The ironic thing is that if the blade was ACTUAL Damascus Steel, it would bend and fit into cuts and could be feasibly wedged all the way down an incision, just like they proclaim in the movie, provided there was enough force behind it, and also by that time she is using the beserker body and infused the blade with a sheathe of plasma to flash-heat the target before contact is made.
@@luukvandepasch7923 Umm, isn't the whole point of armour to be the toughest part of anything. It's the hardest part and on the outside in order to protect the squishier inside. So anything that can cut through the armour, could also easily cut through the rest, since that part is less hard.
That handle tumor is where they put all the science.
this comment needs more likes
also this comment implies science is cancer
@@MrPapamaci88 I don't think that logically follows.
Funny how close you are touching Alita's origin without even knowing :)
It looks like a dildo.
... I think I just ruined it even more.
Shady: There is something wrong with your sword.
ALITA: You just made the biggest mistake of your life.
You just lost a machicolation.
Alita: I’m about to end this man’s whole career
Shady: But I can fix it and make it better.
ALITA: Ok, I’m listening.
Shady: But I said you are awsome!
Alita: Ok I changed my mind
Hmm, I came here ready to shout HERESY but Shady disarmed me with his obvious love for the movie.All is forgiven.
Minor spoilers for the movie.
I imagine Shad at the Theatre.
*sees the evil dude*
Shad: "His sword looks dumb, fitting for a guy like him"
*Alita picks up the sword*
Shad: "Why would you pick that up? It's dumb!"
*Alita does her sword party trick*
Shad: "Okey, I forgive you"
I don’t see any spoilers from a guy that watched the movie myself.
You are biased. But it’s okay. And take out the spoiler sign. Bcs it isn’t.
@@shinjitobe8297
It's joke.
Excelon The 4th Avalon Heirs I’m talking about the part where he mentions spoiler.
I get that the whole damn thing is a joke. But you can’t laugh at a text on a screen that is out of context.
Joke or not, I agree with the concept. I’d rather put “spoiler alert” even if there are no spoilers, than to have some snowflake or troll harass me about non existent spoilers 😂
I watched this movie a while ago, what was the trick?
The way a friend explained it to my nephew when he saw (I forget where) a guy cuts through a pillar in a building... she says. "Imagine that pillar was two pieces stacked on top of eachother like building blocks. If I put something between the two, like a strap or a sword... could you pull it out? No. It has the whole weight of the building pushing those two pillars together. So even if the sword was sharp enough, you'd have to be strong enough to lift the entire building a little bit, the width of the sword in order to cut through. Because once you cut into it, you still have to get all the way through!"
I never thought of it that way, but it perfectly explained the problem with magically sharp fictional weapons.
UNLESS YOURE FAST ENOUGH TO BEAT THE SPEED OF GRAVITY!!!
Have you ever heard of a tree? How do you cut through it? At an angle. All of these criticisms and the criticisms of Shad are moot when you remember that.
@@jonjo2598 Except you dont fall trees in a Single Swing. It's called "chopping wood" because youre repeatedly chopping at the damn thing, then pulling the axe out and jamming it back in that bitch!
@@Shedovv Uh no. You can also Saw trees with flat blades, or use a mechanized flat blade chain-saw.
@@jonjo2598 you still cut out chunks when using a saw or chainsaw as binding is a major issue for both of those tools. especially as if you cut into a tree from only one side gravity means it falls from where the cut started thus binding harder on the back of the too the further you go in.
*Whenever Shad explains some complex historical or scientific concept:*
Shad: "Okay?"
Me: Okay.
From a point of view of physics, tha fact that the sword has a tickness, so it should always get stuck, is not entirely true: the problem is dependent on the sheer pressure that the arm wielding it can impart to the entire section (the cutting edge acts just as a pressure multiplier) of the sword's blade. We are talking here of the Berserker, a military nanotech cyborg that is able to give tons of brute strenght to the entire blade: so, well, a sword really should "cut" stones and steel even if the sword itself has a dull edge! The material under enough pressure melts from heat, and slips away from the blade, and the melted material reduce also the attrition on the sides of the blade itself... if the sword is hard and resilient enough to withstand the stress.
The plasma powerup that Alita gives to the sword is pretty plausible (not realistic maybe, but plausible) in enhancing the melting effect, giving her the upper hand against armored tanks.
I completely agree with you with the weird handle: not so functional at all...
Thing is, that blade is super sharp no matter who wields it in the movie pretty much. If it was only people as strong Alita or those who could use that channeling effect then yeah, I'd agree with your explanation
We only see cyborgs use it. And it was designed for cyborgs. Maybe it means that, if an enhanced human uses it, then it can cut through steel (more or less) like butter.
As one who has worked in the machinists industry, you're correct about the amount of pressure being applied to the cutting edge being a force multiplier. With massive amounts of hydraulic power, hard, heavy steels are cleanly cut by smaller blades daily. That said, all steels are not alike and when they are, there's many variations due to alloy components, processing and tempering. New technology continues to bring improvements in all phases.
When zapan wielded it, the sword did not had plasma coating, neither extremely high strength of the wielder, still it cut through much of materials
Zapan is a cyborg. I dont think ge tuned his body to be about the same as a fleshy human, so i think the superstrenght is still aplies
The manga makes a metaphorical point on Damascus Steel, when Alita/Gally vows to become a living weapon made of the purest steel, her mentor teaches her that the purest steel breaks like glass, and the strength of steel comes from its impurities, taking the example of damascus steel that comes from scraps of various metals (like the one you find in the dump heap they live in), that when forged together produce a metal that is both resilient and flexible.
I thought that the sword's name signalled to the audience that the URM sword was awesome, but the techniques to make it were lost to time (like actual Damascus steel).
I like your metaphor though, as it carries deeper meaning around the growing strength of Alita :)
I mean, "pure steel" is already a weird term since steel is an alloy itself...
@@Picurs Yes, the character is a naive teenager at this point, this is a clever way to teach her a lesson.
This also inspires Alita to accept the "impurities" in her self and see them as a resource instead of a flaw.
@@Picurs She ment perlite, probably.
Her manga armblades were better. Also its called the Damascus blade due to it being made out of a variety alloys its not built from steel.
As well as the fact that it has the Damascus steel pattern in the metal.
@@nathanialwoods8281 yup. I was just stating what was said of the blade not of what's shown.
Yeah, I've read the original 9 and 19 books from last order. They barely scratched the surface of the plot. I would have really liked to see the more heavy handed topics from the manga in the movie. Like the war of the kids against the adults, that already have chips instead of brains. Which focuses on the question of what makes us truly human and when does it stop to apply. Also the coming to she and losing a part of yourself could be an analogy of this plot thread.
@@theblackbaron4119 the movie focus is only over the original manga, i don't think they will ever consider to use some of the topic of the last order series.
@@serindas i might move mistaken, but the one vengeful kid building the giant monster/robot to wipe out the adults was the climax of the original series.
Battle angel: Alita
Is that the whole Australia thing coming into effect because I’ve heard it as Alita: battle angel
The western name for the manga is battle angel Alita. The movie changed the name around. Some say it one way others say it another
@@NerdyPro James Cameron opted for Alita: Battle Angel so the next one can be Alita:
The original title of the manga is simply GUNNM, so I don't think it matters what any alternative titles spells it. (Heck, her name isn't even "Alita", her name was first Yoko (pre-amnesia) then changed to Garii! They just flat-out replaced it like with so many dumb translations.)
As a reader of the Mangas and other sci-fi material: the name Damascus blade comes from her two under arm blades being forged together into one, they're described as having serrated edges hard as diamonds that only high pressure water cutters or sonic cutters are able to hone it. It's supposed to be made from rare metals like lutetium, yttrium and scandium
What about Ido's rocket hammer? Show some love for the warhammer lovers
Looked like more of a rocket pick than a rocket hammer, but I second the interest.
I also would be interested in this!
Kind of a Fallout 4 Super Sledge. Astartes don't need no rocket assist on their hammers...
@@Ruskad No...but Rheinhardt needs rocket hammer. :3
@@Sorrowdusk Dedede did it better
Shad when you mentioned the special ability Alita can do with the sword when you think about it kinda reminded me of Iron Man's repulsar blasters. Hence when Dr Ito tells Alita that her heart could power all of Iron city for years kinda sounds like a mini ark reactor for Alita's heart.
in the Manga, Alita's berserker body had the ability to create and utilize plasma. This was shown briefly in the movie when she showed her finger creating the glowing blue plasma. They just didn't go into details in the movie as they did in the manga. Interestingly though, they did use aspects from the Last Order saga to give us some back story earlier in the movie than was shown in the manga.
@@DatDarkOne Oh yes I caught on to that. To me if they are making 2 or 3 sequels to Alita I would imagine they would find a particular place within the canon to do it because remember after Hugo died it went into a timeline montage as if months has gone by as it says in the Motorball Arena since this based on an entire manga series. So I would think they would fit as much as the canon into the movie but also leaving big timeline montage in between movies as a we for the audience to fit the full manga in the movie timeline.
@AKUJIRULE No disagreement there.
That butterfly-polearm looks way cooler than the sword.
wholeheartedly agreed
MichaelCthulhu built a full size replica accurate to the manga over on his channel
ruclips.net/video/TLKz7csTugE/видео.html
I agree. Leave it to a movie studio to ruin a perfectly good weapon design.
jackisme 1993 I remember watching that once and being so amazed they did such an amazing job !!
@@michaelblacktree the problem is that she gets it much later on in the story.
imagine taking a drink every time he say's "sword"
I will see your sword. and raise you an "okay?"
Running to the bathroom every 5 minutes? (No alcohol or stimulates, Shad's a Mormon.)
Errrrm ( wobbling) yes!.....did that!.......most distracting!.....( Where is the bathroom ,?....and WHY is the room spiinning around???) Lol. Best regards.
Ij trid ist bed idee
@@dropdead234 I keep forgetting that.
:D
I love how conflicted you are. Kudos to you man. I loved the movie as well. Seen it 5 times. Bought 8 tickets. If they don't make a sequel. Well... I can die a happy man knowing that I got to see a character I didn't knew I needed but received in its glory anyway.
How would you buy 8 tickets and see the movie only 5 times though.. Is there something I don't get?
@@thesteaksaignant Simple. I bought extra 3 tickets for other people cause they wouldn't see the movie otherwise.
@@Annor-TM Oh I see, you're a good person. Can't say the same for your friends though.. I mean, not willing to watch Alita ? What are you even doing with these people ! ;)
Saw it 3 times. Twice in IMAX, [alone on the 13th (day before 'official' release) once with friends] once in theater 2D with Family
Fucking loved it every time
I thought it produced plasma to cut anything, thats why it was so thick, because its a technological sword, not a metal folded sword.
YES! It was capable of cutting armor, even when it was not wielded by Alita.
That changes everything.
Lorewise the plasma thingy is exclusive to to berserker body. The sword itself in manga was described just as a masterwork blade made from an alloy of different metals found in scrapyard/iron city which made it very durable.
Since I couldn't find the script online, I went with Pat Cadigan's: "Alita: Battle Angel - Official Movie Novelization".
The sword is introduced as follows:
"Zapan whipped the sword through the air in a series of complex patterns
before holding the cutting edge up in front of Alita at eye level, so she could
marvel at the full effect of its otherworldly iridescence. Despite everything,
Hugo couldn’t help being impressed himself. The blade looked like a super-
natural blend of diamonds and steel
“Honed to a monomolecular edge, it slices armour like butter,” Zapan said in a
melodramatic tone. “Forged before the Fall by the lost arts of Urm metallurgy-”
So Zapan could use the sword to slice through armor, and he was a mere cyborg - without a berserker body. It displayed "its otherworldly iridescence" even in his hands.
It has high vibrating frequency molecules cutting plot that you can find from present cyberpunk pops
@@JimTempleman "otherworldly iridescence" is not the same as being enveloped in plasma.
Also, while zapan was a "mere cyborg" he was still much much stronger than a normal human, meaning he was capable of pushing the blade through materials with brute strength. Just like Alita did.
The plasma shroud does not originate from the blade, it comes from alita's berserker body.
How can Alita end her foe rightly, her sword doesn't even have a pommel? Utter rubbish!
Hmm, what if she did end a foe rightly and is still waiting for the redelivery of her pommel?
No problem there Panzerkunst is there to help with that or later her ability to move and punch faster than the speed of sound.
Give us Pommel part 2! 😊👍
Before they outlawed guns they outlawed pommels.
Watch the movie. She's not interested in ending them rightly. She's just interested in ending them. Period.
There are no dislikes on shads videos, its just his fellow australians pressing the like button.
I'm an American in the Dirty South who upvotes Shad's videos. I do so because Shad creates great videos and does his research. That he is also an Alita fan is just the icing. :D
There is ALWAYS SOMEONE who dislikes a video for some reason. If you have ANY followers at all, then SOMEONE will dislike SOMETHING you say! :P
thats racist - im from germany
@@gaia9020 Why?
@@Ironforce7701 because i love you
To be honest the one in the manga is actually cooler. They made the Robocop mistake, remember the 80s iconic gun was awesome, do you remember the new one..... I don't.
They love that in Hollywood. Scrap an iconic design and create a generic, modern take on it that is way to "perfect" and streamlined to be memorable.
Swordshape: Curve is the same as in some Cavalary-Sabre. The curve here helps to prevent the Blade to get stuck in your target if you pass by whilst attack very fast. So, perfect Alita-Style^^.
Just watched the movie because you said it doesn´t suck.
And i agree, thank you ^^
Well, it is an anime sword after all.
dude why are you every where
Tell me your secret
@@luigiarriola2489 that's one of RUclips artificial intelligences pretending to be human.
@@randomperson-up5vt makes more sense than my entire life
@@luigiarriola2489 I see him pop up left right and center.
Every weeaboo knows she should use a katana, as katanas:
-cut tanks, buildings
-slice planets
-rip space-time continuum
-create black holes, magnetars and big bangs with just a swing of the blade
Well, y'know the current Manga version of the Damascus Blade is technically black hole powered... So I suppose it could very much be Weeaboo Certified!
And then you could give it a pommel!!!
We got a Rocket Powered Warhammer though.
Actually it's clunkiness is clearly shown in both manga and movie. And I loved that, especially the scene where it got stuck after a swing. While it IS an instrument to give human a hand in fighting cyborgs, it's unwieldy to the point where guy completely relied on surprise attack tactic.
Reinhardt would be proud.
Yeah, when that appeared on the screen it had me giggling into my popcorn.
Shad: This sword is unrealistic!!
Me: So you missed the rocket powered warhammer which would weigh about 60kg being swung by a regular fleshy human with no enhancements...? Priorities much
@@shykorustotora Makes sense for a human fighting really tough strong opponents. Get an extremely powerful yet clumsy weapon to kill in one hit when you take them by surprise. The fight with it went about as well as you could expect. The dude knew he was screwed when he realized he would have to one on one combat with it and could barely use it in actual combat.
Quick doubt. Only with reference to the movie.
She was able to channel plasma energy due to the berserker suit
If the sword is at a temperature anywhere near the plasma, it can surely melt steel and of course cut through it like butter
Did you even watch the video? Sure he didn't mention it directly due to spoilers but he did say it changes things.
if it doesn't melt the sword itself.
Well one could argue that the inscriptions on the blade are there to distribute her "trick" through the blade.
My thoughts as well. Some sort of "Heat exhaust". Plasma exhaust? So the blade doesn't melt.
Never discount the value of pure aesthetic appeal.
The thought occurred to me that they might be centuries-old battle damage that no one currently knows how to fix.
Wasn't he talking about the gaps in the edge of the blade, near the hilt?
Nice video, but I would like to nitpick a bit (sorry Shad). While I agree that the movie sword isn't a really good design, I think that you underestimated a few important points about it. First of all the sword was designed to be used by cyborgs, not normal humans, which means that the (admitedly awkward) design of the handle might be due to the differences between a human hand and a cybernetic hand, especially considering that a berserker body is nanotech based.
The second -- and probably more important thing -- is about the length. During the old war berserkers were equipped with firearms alongside their blades, which means that this particular weapon wasn't meant as the primary mean of attack. Hence it filled a role closer to a combat knife, meaning that a longer and more cumbersome blade would have been much more problematic. Also the berserkers were trained to fight hand to hand in zero gravity condition, where a long blade would be actually not that efficient.
Regarding the comic incarnation of the damscus blade, it was a completely different beast.
Wouldn't you want your backup weapon to be as reliable as cyborgly possible? They are still nearly ergonomically identical to humans when in come to hand geometry. If your primary weapon fails you wouldn't want to pick up something that was specifically designed to be awkward to your physical form, even if you do have gargantuan strength.
One important thing to think about shad, your objection to Super Sharp cutting only works if the steel is under compression. If the steel is under tension then cutting it will actually spread the steel apart slightly and so full cutting would be possible
It would also depend on the tensile strength compared to the amount of elongation for the steel under tension. if the cut doesn't spread enough then the blade would still get wedged.
If the steel were being flexed then the cut would be spreading and widening at the same time, giving less material for the bevel to slide through.
Its all a bunch of physics stuff that movie writers apparently don't have time for or don't understand.
The sword is enhanced by the plasma from her berserker body so it burns through anything and doesn't rely solely on the edge.
IE: The width of the blade won't get wedged because the sides cut as well as the edge.
Plus the speed and power behind it.
So... It's a curved lightsaber?
@@ZenoDLC
Kinda yes.
the reason alita does not use a shield and use reverse holding is that her marsial art revolve around:
1-fighting in tight space
2-getting inside the opponent guard
3-zero gravity combat
or at least it was the case in the manga.
alita generates a super hot (10,000 degree+ ) plasma edge on the blade so in addition to being a molecule thick at the edge. add in her insane strength and she will be slicing most thin things in half. she only slashes into the body of spider tanks so she isnt cutting 10 foot thick things in half. she does cut barrels and other thin-ish things (the cutter fingers) in half but given her strength that seems reasonable.
in Manga she was able to accelerate the blade to sonic speed, which allow it to cut things much stronger than itself.
15,000 degrees to be exact (according to Zariki's original body) in the manga - represented by the blue flame ejected from her fingers into the Damascus Blade (something Zapan couldn't do). So even with minimum effort, it should be able to slice alloy as if they were air or water
Guns and cannons are outlawed so there is no reason for the spider tanks to actually have any thick armor
@@danieldorn2927 Why? What if some one make a gun? Criminals don't care about law. In manga there was a revolutionary military rouge army which robe supplies for Zalem and even built a cannon to shoot at Zalem.
@@S1lverarrow There are different kinds of armors, lightweight and agility is preferable against fast moving targets such as cyborgs. Do you know how difficult it is to construct an efficient cannon that is armor piercing? One would need forgotten technology, just like the sword to not only build the weapon, but also its ammunition
I am not a fan of the blade redesign, In the original it looks like a scaled up combat knife and that simplicity makes it look so cool. Here its just eh
I agree, the blade is one of the changes I didn't really like. Also the story in the manga about how she got it is better imo.
In the original she can cut stuff with her finger which is even better
True
The giant butterfly knife/sword/polearm is so much cooler than the thing they used in the movie.
Honestly yea. Was really disappointed they didn't use that one
@@John-sz7vf
The butterfly sword isn't featured till the 7th volume
We're at volume 3ish at the end of the movie
My first reaction to seeing that handle was "How are you supposed to hold that?".
No one:
Alita Battle Angel: 👁️ __ 👁️
The handle looks like a " feminine massage wand" or in layman's terms a vibrator.
You beat me to it, I made my comment a little more subtle
lol...good, if it has two function´s, and Cyborgs need to have fun too ;)
Famed knife maker Bob Lovelace stated a knife handle should “feel like your pecker when you were 16”, so that seems about right.
Applying the "Hertza Haeon" would be rather practical whichever end of the Damascus blade is used (depending on what she wants to achieve)
Dildo? More like Dildon't!
I have to agree, the blade from the Manga is way better.
Well done review Shad always enjoy your analysis of Swords a long with Scallagirm forgive if I spelled that wrong lol.
I'm curious about what you think of the High Frequency blades from metal gear rising
*1000-times folded katana*
@@freshboy3968 the strength needed and I'd think most carbon is gone
Good video good criticism and explanations without simply hating on it
She quick
She Thicc
But most important her design stic
Guess what's more sticky
Minmaxxed Yo pantalonis
Does "the trick alita can do" involve pingpong balls?
Zimzilla 99 ❤️
shes more bubbly in manga, this alita is a little thin :>
Alita's sword is far more believable than lightsabers.
So uncivilized
@@angelmin8819 So unrealistic...my LED flashlight fared better.
Technologically more possible? Yes
In universe more valid explanation? No.
An elegant weapon for a more civilized age!
@sick boy Blasters. So uncivilized.
Regarding your video on dnd armor a few days back you mentioned that there were no segmented plate armor historically. But in lindeybeige's videos he has shown an Indian Mughal plated mail armor with segmented plates joined with chain mail. I have seen something similar here in a museum too in India.
I may have interpreted your words incorrectly so I apologise if that's the case. But if not I would like you to know about it's existence.
Great videos , love them😀😀😀
There are always exceptions to the rule, as shad has said many times. Overall segmented armor was worse than full plate and as such was not as prominent.
@@sirkana but platemail is much better than mail and cheaper than plate, so there is room for it
@@sirkana Segmented plate was probably was harder and more time consuming to forge too. I doubt it was widespread in India's armies.
That's Indians ... They tend to get gaudy.
@@sirkana well it's just a mail armor with some plates at important places.
Never heard of any full body plate armor being used in the subcontinent so maybe it's the best they had.
Shad's movie review: 5m
Shad's sword review: 15m
Oh Shad, never change.
Sword review is 16 minutes
0:55 In regard to its name, because Damascus steel was seen as the greatest type of steel in history by the people who made it, making insanely bold claims about it it never dulled, it never broke, etc. to the extent that they even claimed that the metal was supernatural or magical. I would guess Akita’s sword was called the Damascus sword not because of its properties, but because of its reputation, as if claiming that it’s superior to any other weapon. Which makes sense given the person she took it from.
Would be cool for you to do your own interpretation of Alita's sword, keeping the thematic feel but improving the functional design.
Maybe incorporating elements from the Manga design.
I haven't watched yet, a little busy atm but have you considered shes strong enough to cut someone in half swinging 1/4" round stock like butter? It really doesn't matter what she yields compared to a human because she is not. You probably couldn't even see her swing if the tech was real. New robots are reaching ridiculous working speeds. I'm lucky enough to work with one in the aerospace field.
This. You have an Android specifically designed for fighting and has an advanced metal blade capable of cutting at the molecular level without dulling (just like Adamantium).
The issue is more that it implies that the blade is doing the work, and could cut through steel whoever was wielding it.
Please make a review on the rocket hammer!
The rocket hammer, aka "Why didn't you just build a gun?"
@@jacobstaten2366 Sadly guns are outlawed. And as impractical this weapon is...it i 10 times more awesome :D
Ido's rocket hammer?
Sure!
But really, this examination of both the Damascus Sword an the Manga's "Butterfly Sword", makes me want to see him examine the weapons used in RWBY .... ^_^
It's more of a rocket war pick.
Very anime, and how does an aging, meatbag doctor have the strength to use it.
shad: *says anything*
also shad: *okay? Alright?*
Okay
In the manga, the much longer handle of Alita's switch-blade demonstrates its usefulness in a certain fight as she holds to the handle as far down as possible and gives the blade a really long swing, apparently pushing the blade's furthest-most edge to supersonic speed.
To be fair, we might still get that butterfly spear design in the movie, because she doesn't really have a sword in the comic as she does in the film. In the manga she gets the damascus blade literally as a blade alone to use in her motorball armor. Only much later in the series it gets turned into that spear when she's not playing motorball anymore.
I found your channel recently, and I'm quite enjoying it! Also, I'll be seeing Alita a 2nd time in theaters (never paid more than once in theaters tor for a movie before)! Loved it!
Same here. Seeing it for a 3rd time March 9th out of respect for brie larsons disdain for "40 year old white dudes".
@@TAPriceCTR Aye, March 8th is Alita Day! Several of us have been campaigning to make that catch on. I think a dramatic spike in Alita ticket sales on the same day as Captain Marvel releases will be a statement that can't be ignored. We've always loved badass female leads, but ones that promote misandry/sexism/racism identity politics have no place in our movies.
@@TAPriceCTR #AlitaDay0308
@@TAPriceCTR She said there needed to be more critics who weren't of that demographic. She never said she disliked them.
I guess what we can take away from this is that the prescence of a horrible sword is better than having no prescence of swords at all?
What about the High Frequency Blade from Metal Gear Revengeance?
Rules of Nature!!!
Ngl I would love to see him do a video on that one
"No spoilers for what she does with the sword" The manga came out over 20 years ago I think it's past the statute of limitations on spoilers.
dr. ido rocket hammer
King Dedede Rocket Hammer =)
I was so pleased to see the rocket hammer it action.
@Richard Haegeler mmmmm thsts from the 2008 wh Codex. Alita Is way older than that...besides..Rocket hammers have been all over the place, like in the fallaout series.
@Richard Haegeler Looking for originality in Games Workshop stuff is like looking for a virgin in an Amsterdam whorehouse.
The handle looks like it has a dual purpose.
Damn it why
I cant unsee that now
Lol true. That's a secret fighting technique of the futuristic martian cyborgs.
More like Alita "Butter Knife" Angel
Ha
Butter Angel.
Her new dub lol
Having picked up and handled a $4,000 katana, I can tell you first hand that the gentle curve helps with edge alignment. As soon as I drew it, the sword sang it's edge alignment like a chorus of angels. It was a remarkable experience and I very highly recommend anyone who doubts the edge alignment help of a slightly curved blade picks up a high quality one.
Shad: "She needs a longer sword or a shield so she can get closer"
Alita: *Puts her fist through the face of a dude that just ripped off the entire lower half of her body and one of her arms*
Dude, you're applying human logic to a super soldier cyborg!!!
i agree...that why it call Sci-fi...not sci-non-fi, Sci-fi do not need to make sense in the real world, only to make enough sense to follow the story, like in back to the future. Guy: How do the delorean go through time? BTTF Movies: oh that easy with the use of the flux capacitor, and a little bit of plutonium. Guy: Oh ok, sound cool. Seem legit.
Sci-Fi does not excuse everything. Unless they specifically state that physics work differently in that Universe, a longer sword still improves reach, tip speed, leverage and a number of other properties that are useful in combat. While it is true that Alita is so OP that she can compensate for those drawbacks, there's nothing wrong in pointing out that those drawbacks are there.
Dont cry about how your dont understand why you would try and understand the realities used.
The balance of the blade is not really necessary to move it around really quickly and acurately, she is SEVERAL times stronger than a human.
You can apply any Super-Strength attributes to her.
Also, the difference between Movie Sword and Manga Sword:
- Manga Sword: It was crafted in the Scrapyard by a Blacksmith that knew very advanced smithing and metallurgy techniques.
- Movie Sword: Was crafted by the URM Technocracy via molecular assembly, just like Alita's Berserker body.
The nitpicking that matters!!
Mr Shad, please keep in mind that the arguments about the properly made handle are irrelevant. This sword was built to be used by a cyborg, and was in fact designed to interface with the spoiler system. Thus the arguments about edge alignment and handle bulk should be dismissed. The handle could be specifically suited for the cyborg hand holding and interfacing with it, and may need additional bulk for the extra features. Edge alignment would not be an issue, and if the operating system was properly calibrated, point control might not be either. Your arguments would apply to the previous owner, but not Alita.
Ergonomically the cyborgs are nearly identical to humans so if you wanted to make a good sword for a cyborg the same principles would apply. Making it more awkward to wield would just increase the chances of losing it during a fight. Why would you prosperously shoot yourself in the foot?
Better to make it so you just don't drop it in the first place.
@@Tauntaun707 We know that the sword interfaces with the spoiler system. So it has some form of mechanical link up to the hand. Which means that despite the overall human shape of the hands, there are interface ports and potentially other aspects of their configuration that, while small, would likely ensure that the blade stays perfectly aligned.
Lol all arguments could be dismissed since this is a fantasy sword created for a fantasy girl with super human strength.
@@Tauntaun707 You may be on to something. The only reason Zapan had the sword was because he found it. Which means some martian soldier dropped it long ago.
Nathan's argument of "cyborgs are like humans" is flawed, because he's not looking close enough.
You see: A human 'feels' the alignment of a blade by for example making the handle oval or rectangular. If i understand correctly, the cyborg in this case feels the alignment via an interface-mechanism - in which case the shape of the handle is indeed completely irrelevant, so long as it fits the cyborg's hand.
A similiar mechanism was shown in the cyberpunk 2077 gameplay footage last year, where the protagonist buys a cybernetic implant for her right hand, to interface with handguns (it looks like implanted polymer-plates with metallic contact-points). On first thought, this might seem completely superflous: What's the point, when you already have a hand to grab a handgun properly? And ammo-counts could simply transmitted via wifi, so why a cybernetic grip? The answer is alignment: With such an interface, shooting singlehanded or from the hip becomes feasible, since you can i.e. render a crosshair onto the user's hud - obsoleting the need for ironsight aiming.
This video is why I subscribed to your channel. I really appreciate your expertise on the medieval technical aspects that often get shoehorned into movies without context. For what my 2 cents (pence?? shillings??? denar???!) might be worth, I would love to see more videos like this.
i have watched the movie first to be sure i dont get spoiled and u are so right the movie is awesome!
Felt like half a film.
Swords should be designed by sword enthusiasts. I hate it when they design them with obvious flaws.
Then they'd all be sensible, yet boring, and general moviegoers would be unimpressed.
@@bar-1studios There are _plenty_ of exquisitly beautiful historical swords. Anything from Albion should definitely impress the regular viewer, but even if you'd rather go for a pure fantasy design, you could make it viable and functional rather than stupid, cumbersome and fragile.
@@bar-1studios In Alitas case they did go the other way. Is way more dull and boring looking then the original ones. Her wrist blades were super cool but also simple looking.
And the butter-knife one was as cool but in bigger.
I'm a little upset they changed the rules from motorball for whatever reasons just to justify the new sword .
What were the rules? The most
important are 1. No jet engines. 2. No lose parts. Weapons have to be fixated on the body.
Nah mate, they'd probably be very boring overall, even more so in a world where swords have to compete with guns and cannons. For average Joe and oversized sword that lights on fire is more interested than one that happens to be accurately crafted for the character.
@@itsjuank Well, the sword can still be endowed with magical superpowers and shoot laserbeams and lightningbolts on fire yet look like you could actually grip it comfortably.
I originally assumed etches on the Damascus Blade allows everyone (especially others) to clearly see whether (or how far) the blade is charged by the electro-plasma an U.R.M. Berserker Body User is currently channeling through it.
In the original manga, the beserker body inhales air, heats it to a high temperature using an electrical arc discharge. Then the resulting plasma jet may go up to more than 15,000 degree (celsius) in temperature. Because the Damascus Blade was U.R.M technology, it could extend the plasma jet along the entire blade, probably using the same method they do so in Star Trek ships using Electro-Plasma Conduits which applies EM fields (to confine the electro-plasma itself) - something the Beserker Body can control (ala Magneto style) in the manga.
I also naturally assumed it was partially manufactured using carbon-nanotubes (CNT), so the thickness may be irrelevant as (as far as I know) CNTs are still the strongest & stiffest materials discovered (so far). Technically CNT has a specific strength of up to 48,000 kN·m·kg−1. For comparison reason, high-carbon steel, has a specific strength of of a mere 154 kN·m·kg−1.
The Butterfly Folding Blade was only given to her by the G.I.B. (Ground Inspection Bureau) much more later (most probably in the 3rd Film of this Trilogy) - but I suspect it's a thousand times inferior, especially if no CNT was involve in it's construction, nor has any ability to intricately channel the electro-plasma generated by a Berserker Body User (which is alright since the GIB didn't provide her with one, assuming the film adaptation remains faithful to the manga).
Dynamic Reflex *15 000 Kelvin, not degree
I know it’s a stupid distinction, but a science nerd was gonna doit eventually, so why not me :/
Movie sword is super ugly. Glad u made the video. I feel better knowing I wasnt the only one.
Drink a shot at every "okay".
Have fun :-)
But seriously: i really love your videos. Really educational and (in 99% of the time) you know what you are talking about; you know your stuff. Glad i subscribed.
I think you should recreate her “butterfly sword” out of wood and have fun with analyzing a guan dao/ glaive /pole axe
Menga. Menga. m-E-n-g-a You couldn't deny being an aussie, Shad.
The handle looks ugly anyway, regardless of one's (lack of) knowledge of swords.
Mono-filament swords are the concept of an edge one molecule thick in a suspension field, preventing cutting damage. So the point of the rest of the blade is to provide mass for momentum behind the cutting edge. The "notches" are there for aesthetic reasons of course, but if you want to get into the "why" in-world, it is the two points of contact for the mono-filament suspension field. The curve is for strength of material, not martial, as this is a blade designed to cut through tanks, not people. As for the "special" powers used, they prevent blade sides from sticking as it cuts and evaporates matter around it. I wonder if the Alita of manga needs Alita to make it special (super tech sharp, more mass for super strength). The problem with the manga sword is the very thing you like about it: the length of the blade without reinforcement. The manga blade would snap off at the tang the first time you hit a sentinel with it.
The length of the blade might not be a problem considering she can turn it into a vibro-blade using one of her techniques (similar to that plasma trick in the movie).
I suppose the fact that the sword was meant to be used by ultra strong cyborgs from Mars, justifies the fact that it is super sharp and can cut through metals.
Alita can just power the blade through the material being cut using her cyborg strength, which is more than strong enough to kick out punch through metals anyway.
It would only get stuck in materials if the person cutting with it is not strong enough to push it through or get it out.
It's odd that shad didn't consider this fact.
Sure, the blade might be a bad design for regular people to use, but it wasn't designed for regular people.
He always considers swords if regular humans would use it
He says she needs a better sword design
He DID consider that fact
Please listen to the last 5 minutes again and consider the fact he says that he analyzes the movie sword
I recently happened upon your channel and you're quickly become one of my favorite creators.
The design of the handle and those bits on the lower part of the blade suggests that it has a mechanical function that moves. I think it might be a gun-sword. Perhaps they are planning in the 2nd movie to reveal that. What do you think Shad?
So if you had some magic mcguffin metal that could hold it's shape no matter what, would a needle design be best?
Like it's basically a fencing blade but it's so thin and strong that the edge can cut through metal without warping.
That handle... It looks... interesting. I've seen this shape somewhere already, on another Tube, or Hub or somewhere...
When he said "I'm gonna focus on the blade itself," I immediately finished it with: "inspires men to deeds of madness," in my head =P .
maybe the handle is shaped weird because it has some kind of mechanism to link up with her when she does the special thing with it
Yeah, to accept the Beserker armors plasma energy or something idk
Manslaughter is just man's laughter for shad.
That’s where the body supports the blade’s sharpness since the technique “Hertza Haon” is a vibration technique that vibrates the material apart.
Or she uses Kurtzlag for thrusting.
Turning it into a HF Blade eh? Interesting. :)
Is that not a barehand technique (rather reminiscent of the old "quivering palm" monk attack)? Trying to control the harmonics as they spread up that wonky blade would be a real pain. I'd stick with plasma middle finger were it me.
So that handle is an actual vibrator after all . .
Jagdson the technique can also be applied in armed combat.
"I want to talk about her sword" - Shad, 2019
Things you dont want to say about a girl
Sorcerer DM shadiversity or shadbase? Who knows...
Gotta disagree with the cutting part. Having worked in construction, we hammered steel nails into concrete. If a steel nail can push enough concrete out of the way to go in, a fantasy material like adamantium or molecularly honed metal, what ever that is, used by a fantasy body like a mutant or cyborg wont have an issue pushing steel apart to cut it.
She generates a plasma along the blade and her hands!
But it's built for her pleasure? Lol sorry couldn't help it after looking at the hilt more xD
You are a very naughty Hobbit Jerkins.
Goddamnit xD
@Sun Lun Who needs to grow up here? Even adults still have penises and vaginas, pretending they don't exist after you grow up certainly won't be useful. Making a sword look like a sex toy is a joke and should be pointed out as such in hopes that whoever created this designer piece of garbage won't do it again.
If a sword is a molecule thick, as it passes through the material, the wound will heal itself as the blade leaves. You're only breaking a single molecular bond, which happens all the time. It's essentially what is known as "cold welding".
Presumably, the single edge is a triangle and the wider core spreads the wound wider than one molecule.
the edge is that thick. the rest of it isn't. it pushes the two sides away after cleaving it.
I agree with the handle being funky at best.. but I can't stop thinking that maybe this sword's handle is meant to be attached to something else. Say a bigger handle, making it into a small Scythe... She would definetly benefit in both reach and versatility against bigger cyborgs. If that was the case, I would then understand the double edge and Pickaxe tip. 🤔😂 Cheers!~ P.S. Shad kept his word on releasing this vid about the sword. Delivered very swiftly too! 👍
She could use it as an attachment in place of one of her hands as well, similar to how she replaces her feet with the skate like attachments. The design of the handle might actually make sense in that regard.
@@Treisiess But that would make her unable to use a hand though. However, you can't drop something that's attached to you, so it's also a good idea. Kind of like a Japanese Kama for an arm! 😎
She attached it to her forearm at the end of the movie, similar to the manga.
@@Altonahk I didn't see a way of holstering that sword on her. But passively attaching it to her forearm is a effective way of doing so. Not only that, but it remains a threat if it's still there. It does make it look like a wing.. which is what Alita means in Spanish. "Little Wing." Cool concept. 🙂
@@CynderFox556 Hey it was good enough for captain hook, lol
has anyone mention the whole "linking the sword into her stilletto" thing? might explain its handle.
3:05 So no matter how advanced or sharp you say? So a blade that was oscillating at high speed it wouldn't cut through? I think that your scope of understanding is narrow, and some of these fantasy metals actually seem to vibrate at high frequency. Also, the light saber is a sword, and wouldn't have issue cutting through steel. Then there is pure force...and sharpness and force combined doesn't need your understanding.
you didn't listen to what he said, he was talking about steel against steel
Who can really tell what the nanotech can do ? The reconfiguration of the berserker body shows that some kind of nanobots are used, I would assume the same technology is used on the sword.
That's what came up in my mind, but he did state that he wouldn't gotten the special abilities of the beserker body & the special ability of the sword in. Due to spoilers
@@wva6809 yeah the "Berserker mode" of the body and its full functionality are HUGE spoiler material so either read the manga where its explained in detail or wait.
The entire suit is nanotech they even say so in the movie
The movie says slice through armor, not just metal
Gonna watch the Movie now with my Fiancé and her Confirmation Protégéé... thanks to you Shad ^^
Greetings from Austria
You know, me as a Blacksmith would agree with you sooooo much ;)
Absolutely correct. Even the sharpest axe is stopped by its width.
Hey Shad,
Would you please make more hands on reviews in the future? I really like the hands on reviews combined with the sit down presentation. I think this would better illustrate the points you are making and give us (the audience) a better idea of the pros and cons associated with each weapon you are reviewing.
I don’t know where you would get a replica of each weapon you are reviewing unless you make your own or buy one. I imagine that could be quite costly if you are buy them every time.
Lastly do you know if there is any simulation software where you could test the castles, fortresses and other historical structures in your videos to see how they would perform in a real attack. I realize it would be limited to what the simulation software and computer are capable of doing, but still fun to see on screen.
Thanks for the video and I enjoy your content.